OGT expands CytoSure™ aCGH offering with high
resolution Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy array
High probe density ensures increased confidence in detecting DMD gene gains and losses
Oxford, UK – 30 October 2009. Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), the pioneer of microarray based
technologies, has introduced the high resolution CytoSure™ DMD array. Featuring a
4x44k format and dense probe coverage of the DMD gene region, this new array offers
increased confidence in detecting deletions and duplications within the DMD gene.
OGT’s bioinformatics expertise together with extensive input from Emory Genetics
Laboratory and the array manufacturing precision of Agilent Technologies ensures
confidence in quality and performance. The CytoSure DMD array has undergone a process
of empirical testing and optimisation to provide probe sets of extremely high sensitivity and
specificity. Average exon probe spacing of 10 bp (106 bp within introns) ensures excellent
resolution. As a result the entire DMD gene is covered on a single 44,000 feature array,
which enables 4 full arrays per slide, maximising cost-efficiency by reducing the cost per
sample.
John Anson, Research and Development Director at OGT, stated, “By combining Emory
Genetics Laboratory and OGT’s expertise in microarray design we believe that we are
bringing a powerful tool to the market that will improve our understanding of the deletions
and duplications that can occur within the DMD gene. We hope that the CytoSure DMD
array will contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of the muscular
dystrophies and will ultimately lead to the development of new diagnostic tools and
therapeutic approaches.”
The CytoSure DMD array adds to OGT’s comprehensive portfolio of products and services,
which together provide a complete solution to running oligo aCGH in the laboratory, from
set-up to result. Manual processing and analysis of the CytoSure DMD array is
straightforward using the CytoSure DMD array, CytoSure Genomic DNA labelling kit and the
comprehensive new CytoSure Interpret Software. For higher throughput applications, the
CytoSure DMD array is fully compatible with SciGene workflow automation products (now
distributed in Europe by OGT).
Notes for editors:
About Oxford Gene Technology:
Founded by Professor Ed Southern, Oxford Gene Technology (OGT) provides innovative clinical genetics and diagnostic solutions to advance molecular medicine. www.ogt.co.uk.
Clinical & Genomic Solutions: OGT’s Genefficiency™ is a unique combination of world-leading platforms, people, processing power and performance synchronised to deliver rapid, high quality genomic data to customers worldwide. The OGT CytoSure™ cytogenetics array, labelling and interpretation software products provide a complete solution for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities. Together, Genefficiency and CytoSure offer a unique, standardised and integrated solution for cytogenetics research.
Biomarker Discovery: OGT has a proven pedigree in genomic technology, which, together with the experience gained through the purchase of Sense Proteomics in 2009, enables OGT to develop highly specific customised genomic and proteomic biomarker panels for cancer and other diseases. OGT develops these for clinical screening and companion diagnostics requirements, both for direct sale and also for collaboration with partner companies.
CytoSure™: For research use only
This product is provided under an agreement between Agilent Technologies, Inc., and OGT. The manufacture, use, sale or import of this product may be subject to one or more of U.S. patents, pending applications, and corresponding international equivalents, owned by Agilent Technologies, Inc. The purchaser has the non-transferable right to use and consume the product for RESEARCH USE ONLY AND NOT for DIAGNOSTICS PROCEDURES. It is not intended for use, and should not be used, for the diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of any disease or condition, or for the investigation of any physiological process, in any identifiable human, or for any other medical purpose.
About DMD
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked (Xp21) condition caused by mutations in the
DMD gene. It is a relatively common disease affecting an estimated 1 in 3,500 male births and is
characterised by progressive muscle degeneration. The DMD gene is one of the largest genes in the
human genome (2.2 Mb). Deletions and duplications within the DMD gene lead to muscular
dystrophies (MD) and make up 60-70% of cases of Duchenne MD. Until now, it has been difficult to
accurately detect and size deletions and duplications within the DMD gene using currently available
non-array methods, which do not offer sufficiently high resolution.